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The establishment of a regulated alternative investment industry in Europe took a major step forward with the publication of the European Commission’s so-called “Level 2 measures” to supplement certain elements of the Alternative Investment Fund Manager Directive (AIFMD), says the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI).

Marc Saluzzi (pictured), chairman of ALFI, says: “The publication of the ‘Level 2’ measures finally allows a three year-long painful legislative process to near completion. The development of a regulated alternative investment fund industry in Europe is nearing reality.”

A key measure of the AIFMD involves the introduction of a European passport for alternative investment fund managers who wish to access the entire European market. Given Luxembourg’s position as the European leader in the cross-border space, ALFI expects that implementation of the AIFMD will further enhance Luxembourg as a leading domicile for fund and management companies in the alternative sector.

ALFI actively contributed to the draft law on the implementation of the AIFMD into Luxembourg law that was submitted to Parliament on 24 August 2012. The legal and regulatory certainty stemming from the publication of the Level 2 measures will enable the national legislative procedure in Luxembourg to be finalised, giving a clear framework for AIFMs to develop their offerings.

ALFI believes that two major features of the draft law are likely to present a particular interest to the alternative investment fund community. First, the creation of a limited partnership structure, which will add a flexible and secure partnership structure to Luxembourg’s fund product offering and which might be particularly appealing to investors familiar with such a structure based on the anglo-saxon model. Second, the draft Bill provides for additional clarifications regarding the taxation regime of the carried interest.

In advance of the law entering into force in Luxembourg, ALFI will continue to work with the industry to put in place the necessary operational requirements in compliance with the Delegated Regulations.

Saluzzi says: “ALFI is confident that pragmatic solutions can be found within the given regulatory framework to combine investor protection with well-established industry practices.”